Herons
We have lived in this suburban house for thirty five years but never before have we spotted a heron on one of our apple trees. But there the creature was this very evening. Thirty feet off the ground with his/her neck outstretched, looking for something. Perhaps he or she was looking for another heron or more likely a garden pond from which a nice evening meal might be snatched. Herons are such skilful spear fishers. It is what evolution designed them to do. I had spotted the bird as I passed through our kitchen so grabbed my camera and hoped it would not fly away - the bird I mean, not the camera! Herons are such skittish birds with a keen sense of possible danger. The photo was taken through the glass of our kitchen door. I knew that if I opened that door, he/she would zoom off. Below there are two more heron pictures I have taken in past years. The first one was taken at Garlieston Bay in south west Scotland as night was approaching... This second one was taken by the...